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Much Guesswork
Is Used to Figure
Global Oil Supply

LONDON -- Behind the debate about the world's oil reserves is one sobering fact: The evidence involved might not be as solid as billed.

While there is an abundance of opinion and analysis from authoritative-sounding organizations about whether reserves are running out, little of the conjecture is based on hard numbers. "There's a real paucity of solid information out there," said Jim Meyer, director of the Oil Depletion Analysis Centre, a London-based group that tries to call attention to the world's energy supply.